MUSIC AND THE 3 ANGELS MESSAGES

God has not changed. He is as particular and exact in His requirements now as He was in the days of Moses. But in the sanctuaries of worship in our day, with the songs of praise, the prayers, and the teaching from the pulpit, there is not merely strange fire, but positive defilement (Review and Herald March 25, 1875).

Is music morally neutral?

Are we free to use any style/form of music?

What is the role of culture in music?

We will pursue 3 arguments to answer the question.

1.Music as an expression of world view

2.Physical effects of music3.Language of music

2 CHRONICLES 29:28And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: [and] all [this continued] until the burnt offering was finished. 29:29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. 29:30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

• REVELATION 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints. 15:4Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Music forms a part of God's worship in the courts above, and we should endeavor, in our songs of praise, to approach as nearly as possible to the harmony of the heavenly choirs. The proper training of the voice is an important feature in education and should not be neglected. Singing, as a part of religious service, is as much an act of worship as is prayer. The heart must feel the spirit of the song to give it right expression. {PP 594.3}

• We can use the analogy of a house to depict what music is. A house has many parts: windows, foundation, doors, roofs, walls etc.

• What is the important part of a house?

• Mathew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

• 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Its not the foundation!

Should we conclude that the foundation does not exist because we cant see it at first sight?

Should we ever evaluate a house without considering the importance of a rock solid foundation?

• What is the most ‘visible’ part of music?

1.Rhythm2.Melody3.Harmony We can compare these to the roofs, bricks, windows etc of the house.

What then does the foundation of our musical house represent?

Not rhythm, melody and harmony.

The foundation:1.Our ideas about God2.Who is He, how He acts3.Our values and systems

A world view is a set of beliefs about the most important issues in life:

Ideas about ultimate realityIdeas about how we should live

Ideas about how we know and understand

Musical style, philosophy and theology are interrelated.

This therefore takes the debate outside one’s taste, preference or culture and makes it theological. Music style is grounded in philosophy

All battles are fought in a battle field. The battle field determines how the battle is fought. The choice of the field can determine the outcome of the battle even when armies have same strength and weaknesses.

Battle is worship Field is the great controversy theme and how it

affects our view of God.

The field of the controversy between Christ and Satan--the field on which the plan of redemption is wrought out--is the lesson book of the universe. {PP 154.3}

It is Satan's constant effort to misrepresent the character of God, the nature of sin, and the real issues at stake in the great controversy. His sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law, and gives men license to sin. At the same time he causes them to cherish false conceptions of God, so that they regard him with fear and hate, rather than with love. The cruelty inherent in his own character is attributed to the Creator; it is embodied in systems of religion, and expressed in modes of worship. Thus the minds of men are blinded, and Satan secures them as his agents to war against God.

It was the anticipation of a redeemed, holy universe that prompted Christ to make this great sacrifice. Have we accepted the privileges so dearly purchased? Are we followers of God as dear children, or are we servants of the prince of darkness? Are we worshipers of Jehovah, or of Baal? of the living God, or of idols? No outward shrines may be visible, there may be no image for the eye to rest upon, yet we may be practicing idolatry. It is as easy to make an idol of cherished ideas or objects as to fashion gods of wood or stone.

Thousands have a false conception of God and His attributes. They are as verily serving a false god as were the servants of Baal. Are we worshiping the true God as He is revealed in His word, in Christ, in nature, or are we adoring some philosophical idol enshrined in His place? God is a God of truth. {5T 173.3}

Our understanding of God fear God

His actions judgment

How He is to be worshipped worship Him

Ethics and lifestyle choices give Him glory

We either worship the beast and his form of worship or worship the creator.

EXODUS 32:17-20 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, [There is] a noise of war in the camp. And he said, [It is] not the voice of [them that] shout for mastery, neither [is it] the voice of [them that] cry for being overcome: [but] the noise of [them that] sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt [it] in the fire, and ground [it] to powder, and strowed [it] upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink [of it].

EXODUS 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people [were] naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] shame among their enemies:)

NOTE: MOSES KNEW EGYPTIAN MUSIC

1. The music was loud2. The music was confusing3. The music was appealing to the

flesh

What were the theological issues behind this worship?

Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

EXODUS 32:4 And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 32:5 And when Aaron saw [it], he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow [is] a feast to the LORD.

THESE WERE EGYPTIAN CONCEPTS OF GOD EXPRESSED IN EGYPTIAN WORSHIP STYLES. MOSES CAME DOWN AND PRONOUNCED JUDGMENT UPON THE APOSTATE. THIS WAS A TYPOLOGY OF FUTURE EVENTS! THE ANTI TYPE WAS PREFIGURED! AN AMALGAMATION OF PAGANISM WITH CHRISTIANITY.

Numbers 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 25:2And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 25:3And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

There was a strange infatuation of the isralites with the daughters of Moabs. They invited them to their worship services and proclaimed that they were relatives anyway. They could unite on the sacrifice and put aside their differences!!

Psalms 106:28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

At first there was little intercourse between the Israelites and their heathen neighbors, but after a time Midianitish women began to steal into the camp. Their appearance excited no alarm, and so quietly were their plans conducted that the attention of Moses was not called to the matter. It was the object of these women, in their association with the Hebrews, to seduce them into transgression of the law of God, to draw their attention to heathen rites and customs, and lead them into idolatry. These motives were studiously concealed under the garb of friendship, so that they were not suspected, even by the guardians of the people.

At Balaam's suggestion, a grand festival in honor of their gods was appointed by the king of Moab, and it was secretly arranged that Balaam should induce the Israelites to attend. He was regarded by them as a prophet of God, and hence had little difficulty in accomplishing his purpose. Great numbers of the people joined him in witnessing the festivities. They ventured upon the forbidden ground, and were entangled in the snare of Satan. {PP 454.2}

Beguiled with music and dancing, and allured by the beauty of heathen vestals, they cast off their fealty to Jehovah. As they united in mirth and feasting, indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the barriers of self-control. Passion had full sway; and having defiled their consciences by lewdness, they were persuaded to bow down to idols. They offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading rites. {PP 454.3}

Moabites offer sacrifices to their gods

Israel called to the sacrifices of their gods

they bowed to their gods and their music

Israel is joined to Baal Peor

Rock music is an expression of post modernism.

Post modernism philosophy is that there is no absolute truth. Truth is in the eye of the beholder! There are as many truths as peoples and cultures.

No absolute truth

God chooses all nations

no such thing as false worship

the time of the Judges

Post modernism view of worship

Film may have made postmodernism popular culture possible, and television may have disseminated that culture, but rock music is probably the most representative form of post modern culture…rock music embodies a central hall mark of post modernity, its dual focus on the global and the local… in the offerings of the big stars and the small towns bands alike, rock reflects a plurality of styles borrowed from local and ethnic musical forms. (Stanley Grenz, A primer on post modernism p36)

The pop culture of our day reflects the centerless pluralism of post modernity and gives expression to the antirationalism of postmodernisms. As evidenced in the clothes they wear and the music they listen to, postmodern are no longer convinced that their world has a centre. (grenz p37-38)

The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church-members love what the world loves, and are ready to join with them; and Satan determines to unite them in one body, and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of Spiritualism. {GC88 589}

1. It draws together people who have contradictory views about God

2. It is rhythmically related to many rhythms found in the world

3. Its influence in universal4. It has a language of its own

Some rock, like the songs of soft cell, is overly Christian; other rock like Feederz’s “Jesus entering from the rear” is blasphemous and still other rock, like the music of the police is arguably Christian and atheistic all at once. There is Vedic rock, Zen rock, Rastafarian rock, born-again rock, never-born rock; Jewish rock… rock’s pantheism happily accommodates the varieties of religious experience careless of whatever contradiction arises. (Robert Pattison: The triumph of vulgarity; rock music in the mirror of romanticism page 174)

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Anything that violets the laws of our being/natural laws is SIN

The relation of the physical organism to the spiritual life is one of the most important branches of education. It should receive careful attention in the home and in the school. All need to become acquainted with their physical structure and the laws that control natural life. He who remains in willing ignorance of the laws of his physical being and who violates them through ignorance is sinning against God. {COL 348.1}

The rhythm for which drums provide or generate the beat produce measureable responses in the body’s muscular system, brain wave pattern and hormonal levels. As a result muscle cordination and control become synchronized with the basic beat, brain wave activity itself aligns with the rhythms so generated and various hormones (specifically opiates and sex hormones) are released as a result of electrophysiological synchronization with the rhythm.

(pop goes gospel p187)

The irregular relentless and loud beats of rock music places the human body under stress by increasing the pulse rate, blood pressure and production of adrenalin and by impairing the hearing quality of people. Rock just not only tickle the ear- it jumps the brain like a freight train.

(the christian and rock music p153)

The perceptual changes that occur may well manifest themselves in children as decreased performance in school, hyper activity and restlessness; in adults, as decreased work out put, increased errors, general inefficiency, reduced decision making capacity on the job, and a nagging feeling that things are not just right- in short the loss of energy for no apparent reason.

This has been observed clinically hundreds of times. In my practice I have found that the academic records of many school children improve considerably after they stop listening to rock music while studying.

(the Christian and rock music p140)

The Beatles say (in the late 60’s), "Our music is capable of causing emotional instability, disorganized behavior, rebellion and even revolution.“

Spencer Dryden: "Get them while they’re young; bend their minds.“

Jan Berry: "The throbbing beat of rock provides a vital sexual release for adolescent audience."

Andrew Oldham(recording manager for the rolling stones) says , "Pop music is sex, and you have to hit them in the face with it.“

John Denver, says of rock, "Rock music is a greater influence over the souls of men than primitive Christianity.“

Glenn Frey of The Eagles: "I’m in rock music for the sex and narcotics.“

Frank Zappa, superstar of Mothers of Invention fame: "Rock music is sex. The big beat matches the body’s rhythms.“

Chris Stein, lead guitarist with Blondie: "Everybody takes it for granted that rock ‘n’ roll is synonymous with sex.“

John Oates: "Rock ‘n’ roll is 99% sex.”

LEVITICUS 10:9Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10:10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 10:11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

REVELATION 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 18:2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

REVELATION 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

"The words finally don’t matter after all. Rock music is communication without words, regardless of what ideology is inserted into the music.” Dr William J. Schafer.

"The Words only let you know what the music already says...The music is its own message and it can completely change the message of the words.” Professor Frank Garlock.

"Music is the most powerful stimulus known among the perceptive senses. The medical, psychiatric and other evidences for the non-neutrality of music is so overwhelming that it frankly amazes me that anyone should seriously say otherwise.” Dr Max Schoen in his book "The Psychology of Music"

2 CORINTHIANS 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 6:18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

HEBREWS 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

12:29For our God [is] a consuming fire.